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The Independent UK

Sabrina Sahota

This Crete hotel is the perfect wellness escape

Crete (Location) Sabrina Mediterranean

On Crete’s northeastern coast, Inside Crete Elounda combines Mediterranean design with carefully curated cuisine

Location

Built on the hillside overlooking the turquoise waters of Elounda Bay, Inside Crete Elounda is situated on the northeastern coast of Greece’s largest island. You can reach the hotel in an hour from Heraklion Airport, via a picturesque but winding drive through the Cretan hills and past olive groves. There’s no direct public transport, so you’ll need to hire a car (there is parking available at the hotel), arrange a private transfer with the hotel (around €125 or £106 one way) or grab a taxi from the airport (about €75 to €95, or £64 to £84 one way).

It’s a 15-minute drive to Agios Nikolaos, a charming coastal town where you’ll find waterside restaurants and shops selling Cretan art. For a fascinating slice of history, the hotel can also organise a boat tour to the nearby uninhabited island of Spinalonga (ask for Georgina as your guide), previously home to the Venetians, Ottomans, and a former leprosy colony until 1957.

The vibe

There are 86 rooms and suites across seven acres, making Inside Crete Elounda feel more like a deconstructed boutique hotel than a sprawling resort. An outdoor infinity pool, sun loungers and cabanas offer plenty of space to relax, and are surrounded by the hotel’s al fresco dining area.

The hotel has an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the ocean (INNSiDE Crete Elounda)

In a move away from typical all-white Grecian decor, the finishes are contemporary while still retaining a Mediterranean feel. There are plenty of warm, terracotta tones mixed with modern, eye-catching geometric details, from the rust-red fringed parasols and cabana frames to cobalt blue and coral tiles that wrap around the poolside bar.

Service

Plenty of hotel staff are on hand to help with your stay, whether it’s ordering food to the poolside or helping to organise excursions. There are golf buggies available to take you and your luggage to your room or around the hotel during your stay. For an extra cost you can access 24-hour room service, a laundry service and an on-call doctor.

Bed and bath

There are 86 rooms spanning eight types. Standard rooms are the perfect size for a couple, while Beach House rooms would suit a small family. You’ll find private plunge pools in 18 rooms across the hotel.

All rooms retain the modern Mediterranean style found throughout the hotel with stone flooring, a woven headboard and hanging terracotta pendant lights. Pops of colour can be found in abstract art, coffee table books and sage tiles in the open minibar.

Mid-century-inspired design runs throughout the hotel (INNSiDE Crete Elounda)

Thoughtful touches include a Chromecast for the TV, a yoga mat, Nespresso coffee machine, soft fleece robes and light switches to indicate if you’d like your room cleaned or not.

A walk-in rain shower and open shelf vanity make the bathrooms feel more spacious. They feature terrazzo tiles and have organic, spa-scented toiletries. There are no rooms with bathtubs at the resort.

Food and drink

The menus at the hotel’s two Mediterranean restaurants have been designed by renowned chef Lefteris Soultatos, who has combined famed dishes from his hometown of Heraklion with culinary inspiration gained from working across France, Italy, Egypt and the USA. Both restaurants cater well to dietary requirements.

The main restaurant is Calydon, which offers panoramic sea views, and is where the breakfast buffet is served. Standouts include thick Greek yoghurt, seasonal fruits, fresh honeycomb and savoury classics such as spanakopita. This is also where half-board guests have dinner, which includes a buffet of appetisers, salads and desserts, and a choice of mains which are served to the table.

You can enjoy your meals at the hotel’s al fresco restaurant, Harupi (INNSiDE Crete Elounda)

Harupi is the hotel’s a la carte restaurant that’s situated outdoors on the same level as the pool. The seafood is a must here, from the vibrant fish ceviche with lime, chilli and coriander to the fish bianco cooked with lemon, herbs and olive oil.

There’s also an extensive pool bar menu featuring salads, tacos, bao buns, pasta and more. Inside you’ll find the lobby bar serving cocktails and specially sourced wines, the latter of which you can experience with a wine tasting. This can be booked by enquiring with the hotel reception.

Facilities

Innside Crete Elounda has impressive wellness facilities, with an outdoor infinity pool and an open-air gym that contains Technogym cardio equipment, functional training kit such as TRX straps, dumbbells and more. With the sea breeze passing through and views of the ocean, it feels a world away from clinical hotel gyms that often seem like an afterthought.

You can feel the sea breeze flow through the open-air gym (INNSiDE Crete Elounda gym)

The gym also hosts morning yoga classes for guests on Tuesdays and Fridays, which can be adapted to your ability.

Accessibility

There are three accessible rooms at the hotel, which are all in the Standard room category. Loft and Beach House rooms are not accessible. There is a lift to take you from the lobby down to the pool area.

Pet policy

Pets are permitted on request, for a fee of around £35 per night. You can bring up to two dogs and there is no weight limit.

Check-in/check-out

Check-in is 3pm; check-out is 11am.

Family-friendly?

For all rooms, cots are available upon request and highchairs are available in the restaurants. The Loft and Beach House rooms come with a sofa bed to provide additional sleeping space if required.